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The NZ Herald reported in August that the country's annual provisional suicide numbers were the highest since records began, rising for the fourth consecutive year to a record 668 deaths – with male Māori disproportionately represented, making up 97 of the 668 deaths in the 2017/18 year.

We need more funding put into counselling facilities and research. We need consistency in having mental health facilities kept afloat.

We also need the wider community to be aware and personally resourced to be effective first responders when they become aware of someone who could be depressed, anxious or stressed.

Following high profile suicides in the community you can't help but hear people saying that if people are in trouble they should ask for help – well that's all very good, but when someone is not in a good space they might not feel able to ask – it's up to the rest of us to take some ownership of the issue with those affected.

You can't expect someone who feels all the emotions that comes with depression or any other mental health issue to be their own heroes in their moments of hell – we all need to step up and play our part.

If we haven't seen or heard from someone we need to pick up the phone and see how they're going. We need to make time to see each other.

With the horrific numbers we are being advised of, there will be even more comment about mental wellbeing and the part we can all play. Health authorities and other organisations are currently, (or are preparing to), run workshops/seminars on this very issue.

We all need to access one of these so that one day we may be adequately prepared to make a difference in someone's life.